Vishnu Som

With Eye On China, India May Buy 'Unarmed' Guardian Drone From US

India News | Written by Vishnu Som | Sunday September 24, 2017

When US Secretary of Defence James Mattis flies out to New Delhi later today, his top priority will be to try and ensure that the new India-US "major defence partnership" ends up being more than a talk-shop on strategic issues of mutual concern.

Planned Tough Rescue If Plan Went Awry: Ex-Commander On Surgical Strike

India News | Written by Vishnu Som | Wednesday September 20, 2017

When Lieutenant General DS Hooda, then Northern Army Commander, saw the live video feed of India's surgical strike across the Line of Control, he knew he wasn't necessarily getting the full picture.

Arjan Singh: India's Oldest Serving Military Officer, Hero Of 1965 War

People | Reported By Vishnu Som, Written By Aloke Tikku | Sunday September 17, 2017

Back in September 1965, the Chief of Air Staff was summoned to the Defence Minister's office. Pakistan was targetting the vital town of Akhnoor in Jammu and Kashmir as part of Operation Grand Slam. The army needed air support. The government needed to know how quickly the Indian Air Force would be ready for operations. Air Force Chief Arjan Singh r...

Gurgaon Woman, Filmed Slapping Soldier Repeatedly, Is Arrested

Gurgaon News | Written by Vishnu Som | Friday September 15, 2017

A woman caught on camera slapping a soldier relentlessly, without facing any resistance at all, was arrested today after the army reported her to the Delhi Police. She was released within hours after a judge granted her bail.

Don't Blame Us, Says Ammunition Maker After Army's 35-Crore Gun Explodes

India News | Written by Vishnu Som | Wednesday September 13, 2017

When the barrel of India's brand-new ultra-light and long-range artillery gun exploded during a field trial a few days ago, the damage was attributed by army sources to home-made ammunition.

Faulty Indian Ammo Damages First Artillery Guns Imported In 3 Decades

India News | Written by Vishnu Som | Tuesday September 12, 2017

The first artillery gun imported by India in over three decades has been badly damaged after a shell manufactured by the Defence Ministry's Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) exploded.

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's Big Shake-Up Of Workflow

India News | Reported by Vishnu Som, Edited by Amrita Ray | Monday September 11, 2017

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will hold daily meetings with all three service chiefs and the defence secretary to ensure quick decision making in her ministry.

Will Be Defence Minister Round-The-Clock: Nirmala Sitharaman

India News | Reported by Vishnu Som, Edited by Deepshikha Ghosh | Thursday September 7, 2017

With a priest saying prayers, Nirmala Sitharaman took over today as India's first full-time woman Defence Minister, declaring that her priority would be modernization, military preparedness and "big play" in Make in India in production.

Army Chief Says 'Salami Slicing' By China Could Lead To War With Pak Too

India News | Written by Vishnu Som | Wednesday September 6, 2017

A week after India and China ended their worst military confrontation in decades, Army Chief General Bipin Rawat has said that the possibility of a two-front war against China on the North and Pakistan to the West cannot be ruled out

After Talking Peace With China, India Steps Up Military Ties With Japan

India News | Written by Vishnu Som | Wednesday September 6, 2017

In a move likely to irk China, India and Japan significantly stepped up defence ties a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and China's President Xi decided to move beyond the Doklam stand-off to step up border security cooperation. Beijing sees Japan as a regional military rival with which it has territorial disputes. India and Japan have a "Spe...

2 Top Generals Survive Army Helicopter Crash In Ladakh

India News | Written by Vishnu Som | Tuesday September 5, 2017

The Lieutenant General who heads the Indian Army's 14 Corps based in Leh has survived a helicopter crash in Eastern Ladakh this afternoon. Lt General SK Upadhya was onboard the Army Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter which is believed to have encountered control-related issued at the Tsogstalu helipad in Eastern Ladakh at 1:30 this afternoon.

I Co-Anchored A Show On China State-Run TV. How They Handled Doklam

Blog | Vishnu Som | Thursday September 7, 2017

It had never happened before - an Indian and a Chinese anchor sitting next to each other - one bound by protocol and state control, and the other bound essentially by the belief that asking questions, any question, was my democratic birth right.

On A Move That Will Anger China, Vietnam Says Yes, India Denies

India News | Written by Vishnu Som | Friday August 18, 2017

For the first time ever, the government of Vietnam today confirmed - albeit carefully - that it has acquired BrahMos anti-ship cruise missiles from India. At a time when Delhi and China are locked in their worst military confrontation in decades, sources in the Defence Ministry denied selling the missile systems to Vietnam, though they did not want...

For First Time, Army To Get Its Own Attack Helicopters, Boeing Apaches

India News | Written by Vishnu Som | Friday August 18, 2017

The army will buy six US built Apache attack helicopters within the next six months in a deal worth $655 million dollars or about Rs 4,170 crore. The government today authorised the purchase, which will see the army operating its own attack helicopters for the first time and ending a long-standing monopoly of the air force.

After Ladakh Clashes, China And India Army Officers Hold Talks: 10 Facts

India News | Reported by Vishnu Som, Neeta Sharma, Edited by Parmeshwar Bawa | Wednesday August 16, 2017

Senior army officers from China and India in Ladakh are today holding a flag meeting, used to discuss border spats and control, after yesterday's clashes in which soldiers from the two countries threw stones at each other, resulting in minor injuries Indian border guards stopped Chinese troops from entering Indian territory along a lake. Senior arm...

After Both Tanks Break Down, India Knocked Out Of International Drill

India News | Written by Vishnu Som | Friday August 11, 2017

The Indian Army has been knocked out of the high-profile international tank biathlon taking place at the Alabino ranges in the Moscow region of Russia after both the main and reserve T-90 main battle tanks developed mechanical problems.

More Troops Sent Along China Border, Caution Level Raised

India News | Reported by Vishnu Som, Edited by Arun Nair | Friday August 11, 2017

India has increased operational readiness by sending more troops along the eastern border with China, sources said. The latter said that the army has also raised the "caution level" among army formations who are guarding the 1400-km border in Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh.

Despite Tension, Army Hasn't Deployed Artillery Guns Near Doklam

India News | Written by Vishnu Som | Wednesday August 9, 2017

Indian artillery guns have not been shifted to their emplacements near the site of the standoff between Indian and Chinese troops in the disputed Doklam Plateau, a part of Bhutan, which is located East of Sikkim.

Exclusive: Why Indian Air Force May Best Chinese Jets In An Air Battle Over Tibet

India News | Written by Vishnu Som | Wednesday August 9, 2017

Indian Air Force fighter jets will be able to effectively tackle Chinese Air Force fighters over Tibet in the event of hostilities between the two countries. A new yet-to-be-released document, "The Dragon's Claws: Assessing China's PLAAF Today" makes the point that the IAF has significant operational advantages over the Chinese Air Force in operati...

No Troop Reduction By India At Doklam, Say Sources, Rebutting China's Claim

India News | Written by Vishnu Som | Wednesday August 2, 2017

There has been no reduction in Indian troop number in the disputed Doklam Plateau to the east of Sikkim, where Indian and Chinese soldiers have been involved in a standoff since June 18.

3,600 Crores Later, Made-In-India Akash Missile Fails Tests, Says Auditor

India News | Written by Vishnu Som | Friday July 28, 2017

As many as a third of the home-made Akash surface-to-air missiles have failed basic tests, says the country's national auditor, claiming the deficiencies of the missiles "posed an operational risk during hostilities."

Pathankot Fallout: Special Powers To Armed Forces For Security Upgrade

India News | Reported by Vishnu Som, Edited by Aloke Tikku | Thursday July 27, 2017

A Rs. 2,000 crore blueprint to upgrade security at defence installations that has been caught up in bureaucratic red tape could finally get off the ground. The NDA government on Thursday declared the Armed Forces were being given "substantial financial powers" to revamp security of 3,000 sensitive installations without seeking approvals from the de...

Machil Encounter: 5 Army Men Get Bail, Life Term Suspended

India News | Reported by Vishnu Som, Edited by Deepshikha Ghosh | Thursday July 27, 2017

Five army men including two officers will be released on bail today after their life terms were suspended by the Armed Forces Tribunal in the 2010 encounter killing of three young men in Jammu and Kashmir's Machil. The soldiers had been held guilty of falsely claiming that the men were terrorists and killing them in cold blood for cash rewards and ...

After CAG Report, Sources Say Critical Ammo To Start Arriving In Weeks

India News | Reported by Vishnu Som, Edited by Shuchi Shukla | Saturday July 22, 2017

A day after the country's top auditor told parliament that the Army is significantly short on ammunition, sources have confirmed to NDTV that supplies of critical ammo for tanks and artillery guns will start flowing in from early next month. The Army by the end of next year will likely come close to meeting its requirement for 40 days of war wastag...

No 'Significant' Progress In 3 Years: Auditor On Army Ammunition Shortage

India News | Reported by Vishnu Som, Edited by Aloke Tikku | Saturday July 22, 2017

The world's second-largest standing army is woefully short on ammunition and there hasn't been a remarkable change in the last few years, the country's top auditor told parliament on Friday. The shortage dents the army's ability to sustain a war for a long period.

How To Read China's Rhetoric And Military Drills Amid Sikkim Standoff

India News | Reported by Vishnu Som | Wednesday July 19, 2017

For all China's belligerent talk on the standoff at the border in Sikkim, its army has not mobilised any additional forces or equipment over the last month, which has seen nearly 300 soldiers from China and India standing 150 metres apart, though with guns pointing down to indicate a lack of intent in escalating hostilities.

When Indian MiG-29Ks 'Clashed' With US Super Hornets Over Bay Of Bengal

India News | Written by Vishnu Som | Tuesday July 18, 2017

When Russia deployed its sole aircraft carrier, the Kuznetsov off the coast of Syria earlier this year, a newly-developed fighter jet onboard the ship had many Western powers operating in the region intrigued, if not concerned.

Army Cleared To Buy Spares To Be Ready For Short Wars

India News | Written by Vishnu Som | Thursday July 13, 2017

In a major move to cut through red-tape in the defence ministry, the Army's Vice Chief, Lt General Sarath Chand, has been given full financial powers to ensure the Army is stocked with enough ammunition to fight short and intense wars.

With Eye On China, India Sends Largest Ever Fleet For Naval War Games

India News | Written by Vishnu Som | Thursday July 6, 2017

In less than a week from now, MiG-29K fighter jets flying off the deck of India's only operational aircraft carrier, the INS Vikramaditya will be 'taking on' state of the art US Navy F/A-18 E/F 'Super Hornet' fighters over the waters of the Bay of Bengal in what will be the largest, most complex Naval war games India has ever participated in.

Army Says China Did Not Use Bulldozers to Destroy Bunkers: 10 Updates

India News | Reported by Vishnu Som, Edited by Shuchi Shukla | Tuesday July 4, 2017

Chinese troops did not use bulldozers to destroy Indian bunkers in Sikkim last month, the Indian Army has said, also denying reports that soldiers from the two sides engaged in a scuffle at the border amid a face-off. The Army has also denied that the current tension at the border is the longest standoff between the two countries since the 1962 war...